Match package



March 1957 P. J. SCHOENBERGER INVENTOR P/I/Y/ja J- 62/700760 BY a ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,785,794 MATCH PACKAGE Philip J. Schoenberger, St. Paul, Minn.

Application November 18, 1954, Serial No. 469,816 7 Claims. Cl. 206-29 This invention relates to an improvement in match package and deals particularly with a novel folder for containing matches or the like.

Various types of match packages have been produced to add to the safety of these packages. One of the biggest difficulties with packages of the type in question lies in the fact that a spark from an ignited match or the ignited head of a match may ignite others of the matches so that the entire body of matches will be simultaneously burned. Accidents of this type occur quite commonly and one of the objects of the present invention lies in eliminating this difiiculty.

It has also been found that smokers are sometimes unable to locate an ash tray in which to place extinguished matches and ashes from cigarettes and the like. It is often found embarrassing to be smoking a cigarette and have no proper place to put the ashes or the extinguished match. Accordingly, an added feature of the present in vention resides in providing a match package which includes a pocket into which ashes and the like may be placed.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a match package including a panel of paper board or similar material which extends between the usual back cover of the match folder and the matches themselves. This panel is provided along its upper edge with a flange or flap designed to fold over the heads of the individual matches so as to shield the match heads from sparks or broken match head parts which are ignited. This flange also provides a covering shield for the match heads if the pocket between the panel and the folder back is used.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a pocket which may be expanded in size to contain a variable amount of ashes or the like. The back panel of the match folder is preferably provided along each edge with a folded panel, the two panels overlapping between the matches and the folder back panel. By pressing the edges of the folder back panel together the pocket may be expanded to receive ashes, extinguished matches and the like.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a flange connected to the portion of the folder against which the matches are struck. This flange normally inclines outwardly from the match folder and deflects sparks or broken parts of the match heads from contacting the heads of the matches remaining attached in the folder.

These and other objects and novel features of my in vention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawingsforming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the match folder in closed position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the match folder in open position and in position for a match to be ignited.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the open match folder 2,785,794 Patented Mar. 19, 1957 in position to receive cigarette ashes or other such material.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the match folder, the position of the section being indicated by the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the folder blank from which the match folder is formed.

The match folder is indicated in general by the letter A. This folder is best formed as indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings and includes a back panel 10 which is foldably connected along one longitudinal edge 11 to a pocket forming panel 12 and which is folded along its opposite edge 13 to a pocket forming panel or flange 14. The combined width of the panels 12 and 14 is somewhat greater than the width of the back panel 10 so that the panels 12 and 14 will overlap to a desired extent as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings when the package is formed.

The back panel 10 is connected at its upper edge by a fold line 15 to a top panel 16 which in turn is connected along a fold line 17 to the front cover panel 19.

The back panel 10 is also connected along its lower edge by a fold line 20 to a bottom and front wall forming panel 21 which folds over the lower edges of the matches contained and extends forwardly over the lower ends of these matches. A deflector flange 22 is hingedly connected to the panel 21 along a fold line 23.

The panel 12 is foldably connected along a fold line 24 to a flange 25 which may, if desired, be further divided by one or more transverse fold lines 26. The flange 25 is designed to extend over the match heads and downwardly over the front surfaces of the matches to form a shield therefor.

The matches are usually arranged in two parallel rows 27 and 29 and are connected along weakened lines of separation to a base part which fitswithin the lower part of the folder. A staple 30 normally extends through the panel 21, through the baseportions of the match assemblies and through the back panel 10 to hold the structure assembled. Prior to the assembling the panels 12 and 14 are folded to overlie the back panel 10 and to lie in overlapping relation.

Preferably the shield 25 extends the full width of the package so as to overlie the match heads through the width of the package. The folder is closed in the usual manner with the lower edge of the cover panel 19 folded between a portion of the front panel 21 and the match assemblies. The surface of the panel 21 adioining the fold line 23 is coated with a material capable of cooperating with the material forming the match heads to ignite the match heads.

The operation of the match folder will now be described. When it is desired to ignite one of the matches, the match is broken from its assembly and struck against the coated surface 31 on the front panel 21. Usually during this operation the package is held as in Figure 2 with the flange 25 overlying and protecting the match heads. The deflecting flange 22 also ordinarily inclines outwardly from the matches so as to deflect any ignited material travelling in the direction of the match heads.

If the match package is to be used as an ash tray or as a container for extinguished matches, the side edges of the back panel 10 are pressed together causing the panels 12 and 14 to overlap to a greater extent. causes the back panel to bow outwardly as indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings forming a pocket between the This ever, the match folder can serve as an emergency ash.

tray and will permit the smoker to smoke without the necessity of dropping ashes on the floor when no ash tray is readily available. f

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described theprinciples of construction and Operation of my match package and while 1 have endeavored to set forth' the.

best embodiment thereof, I desired to'have' it understood that obvious changes may be madeiwithin the'scope of r the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Iclaim: 1 1. A unitary match folder. and ash'receptacle includfoldably connected to the upper edge of, the back panel,

' a short front panel foldably connected to the lower edge of the back panel and folded to overlie the forward;

sides of the matches, matches secured between said last named front'panel and saidback' panel, a second back panel closure between said matches and said first mentioned back panel, said second back panel closure forming a receptacle pocket having an open top next tothe match heads and which is covered by said top and front panel at the point of their being foldably connected to the. upper edge of the said first mentioned back panel, and an auxiliary flange foldably, connected to said back panel ond overlying the heads of the'matches.

7 ing in combination a backpaneL-a top and front panel 2. A'unitary match folder and burned match receptacle including in combination aback panel, a top and front panel foldably connected to' the upper edge'of said back panel, a bottom and front panel foldably connected to the lower edgeiof said back panel,- a match assembly the upper edge of. the said first mentioned back panel.

3. The construction described in claim 2 including an auxiliary fiange hingedly secured to said back panel and folded to overlie the match heads and a deflector flange hingedly secured 'to the upper edge of said last named front panel.

4. A unitary match package, ash and burned match re- 1 ceptacle formed from a match folder blank including in combination a body of foldable material including a back panel, a top panel and a first front panel foldably connected to the upper edge of said back panel, a bottom panel and front panel foldably connected .to'the lower edge of said backipanel, and parallel pocket forming panels foldably connected to the side edges of said back panel and folded into overlapping relation in substantially closely spaced parallel contact with said back panel, and

a match assembly secured between said bottom and front panel and said back panel and overlying said pocket forming panels, said pocket forming panels forming'a pocket tween said matches and said back panel. '1 i 5 5; The construction described in claim 4 and, inclnding a shield flange secured to the upper edge'of One of j said pocket forming panels.

6. The construction describedin claim 4and in which said'pocket forming panels are each'narrower than-said 9 back panel.

7. The construction described in claim 4 and in'which each said pocket forming panel is narrower than said back panel and including. a shield flange foldably connected to the upper edge of one of said pocket forming panels and extending substantially the full width of said back' panel. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sakowski June 1, Goldberg Mar. 19, Johns Mar. 21, Quinlan May 9, Stone May 30, Premo July 15, Atkins Sept -15, Sutton f June 12, 

